Post by stillwater on Feb 13, 2017 11:09:31 GMT -5

Lineup last year came out Feb 23rd.

My guess/hope is that we get a Sturgill/Isbell co-headline one night. Both just announced huge tours that skip Philly, have the dates open and Strand of Oaks is opening for Isbell in South Carolina the week prior who I'm sure is playing the festival with the new album. That would be a great night.

Great fest every year for the price- looking forward to it.

Edit: Isbell just announced a Philly date. I'll stick with my Sturgill prediction.

Post by ne215 on Feb 13, 2017 13:36:14 GMT -5

I really liked last years lineup, planned on going that Sat for my bday all day but it was one of the hottest days of the year so i just went for Gary Clark and The Shakes at the the Susquehanna or whatever its called now. Do they give any hints for this or any leaked/confirmed acts? I legit live like 10 min away right over the bridge.

Post by TE on Feb 21, 2017 8:50:28 GMT -5

Great Friday night booking- however there's now only two nights (Friday and Saturday) at BB&T Pavilion. Sunday will be Wiggins Park performances only.

This means that Tame Impala and Belle & Sebastian are now out for XPN Fest. I'm really hoping they're able to book Fleet Foxes/Spoon for Saturday. They don't have Saturday night booked yet, so reach out to WXPN and encourage them to book Fleet Foxes!

Post by Billadelphia on Feb 21, 2017 10:53:42 GMT -5

With Spoon in NYC Friday and Merriweather Sunday this seems to be the logical fit. Logistically, Newport wouldn't make as much sense. They also play 3 nights in a row earlier in the tour, so that doesn't rule them out.

Post by TE on Feb 24, 2017 12:38:07 GMT -5

WXPN favorite Dr. Dog added to Newport Folk Festival on Sunday 7/30. I imagine either Dr. Dog or Spoon is the pre-headliner for Saturday's BB&T Pavilion. It would be great if both were booked and one played Wiggins Park.

Post by stillwater on Feb 24, 2017 12:57:36 GMT -5

WXPN favorite Dr. Dog added to Newport Folk Festival on Sunday 7/30. I imagine either Dr. Dog or Spoon is the pre-headliner for Saturday's BB&T Pavilion. It would be great if both were booked and one played Wiggins Park.

Post by TE on Mar 7, 2017 14:38:22 GMT -5

Therefore, I have no plausible guess for Saturday's night headlining slot. Dr. Dog & Spoon are both still possible as pre-headliners. Solange and A Tribe Called Quest both will be in the area and have Saturday free. WXPN was very high on both their new albums last year. Could either one of them be the Saturday headliner?

For non-headlining options, Car Seat Headrest and The Head and the Heart seem possible based on each of their tour dates.

Post by TE on Mar 7, 2017 15:01:22 GMT -5

XPN does play some hip hop but I would be SHOCKED if they booked ATCQ as their Saturday headliner (though I would love it)

Agreed (and agreed)

Newport Folk Fest recently announced American Acoustic featuring the Punch Brothers, Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, & Aoife O'Donovan for Sunday 7/30. I'd (unfortunately) imagine that group would be more likely for XPN Fest than Solange or A Tribe Called Quest.

XPN Fest needs 2 strong headliners to get me to attend in full this year. Wilco & ATCQ would do it, Wilco & a roots super-group would not. Maybe it'll be someone like The National or Vampire Weekend, who have been rumored to be releasing an album this year, but haven't announced it or our dates yet.

XPN just announced that more on this year's XPN Fest will be announced tomorrow @ 9am. It seems we won't have to wait much longer...

Could still play on the 30th. But I doubt they play that many days in a row.

XPN Fest announced that they won't be using BB&T Pavilion on Sunday, July 30th and Fleet Foxes is too large for Wiggins Park. Father John Misty and Colvin & Earle were the largest acts at Wiggins Park last year, so unfortunately Fleet Foxes is definitely out.

Post by TE on Mar 8, 2017 11:20:20 GMT -5

XPN's Twitter lists Spoon as the top billed act for Sat. night, while their members e-mail lists Amos Lee as the top act. I assume they're co-headliners and will both be playing the same amount of time.

Spoon will most likely get me to purchase a ticket for the full festival, but I really wish they'd stop booking so many repeat acts. Out of the 8 acts announced so far, only 2 (Conor Oberst & Spoon) haven't played XPN Fest before. 3 repeats from last year seems a bit excessive. I'm very disappointed not to see any Panorama Fest acts on the lineup so far. I would've loved to see Future Islands and/or Angel Olsen on the Sat. night bill.

With only 2 nights at BB&T and with Spoon/Amos Lee being smaller than last year's Ryan Adams, Alabama Shakes, Brandi Carlile headlining group, I wonder if tickets will be a bit cheaper this year.

Any thoughts on the acts for Wiggins Park? Dr. Dog seems possible for the top-billed act there. I think Car Seat Headrest, The Head and the Heart, Future Islands, Angel Olsen, Mitski, Drive-By Truckers, Margo Price, Ex Hex, & Kevin Morby are all realistic possibilities. Acts that I would love that are a bit more far-fetched, but possible, are Laura Marling, Dirty Projectors, and Natalie Prass.